Question

Protein folding and lipid-bilayer formation result in decreased entropy for a protein molecule and bilayer components. The decrease in entropy is balanced by a large increase in the entropy of the surrounding ________.
a. Temperature
b. Salt solutions
c. Pressure
d. Water molecules

Answer 1

Answer:

A decrease in entropy is balanced by a large increase in the entropy of the surrounding water molecules.

Explanation:

Water's ability to dissolve a wide variety of molecules is important, but more important is the hydrophobic effect, which drives the aggregation of hydrophobic molecules and plays a role in the folding of proteins and formation of lipid-bilayers.

Entropy is a measure of disorder of a system. Forcing water to be ordered decreases entropy, a very unfavorable situation. Water has the ability to force hydrophobic molecules away causing their aggregation. Water gains entropy when the fatty acids (hydrophobic) are forced into the lipid-bilayer.  Thus, a decrease in entropy is balanced by a large increase in the entropy of the surrounding water molecules.